Sydney FC Undone By League Leaders

Goals to Alessandro Del Piero and Richard Garcia couldn’t prevent Sydney FC from falling to a 5-2 defeat to Brisbane Roar in front of 17,662 fans at Allianz Stadium.

Goals to Alessandro Del Piero and Richard Garcia couldn-t prevent Sydney FC from falling to a 5-2 defeat to Brisbane Roar in front of 17,662 fans at Allianz Stadium.

The Roar justified their position at the top of the table with Dimi Petratos netting a hat-trick whilst Thomas Broich and Ivan Franjic also scored.

Sydney opened the scoring through Del Piero, with the returning skipper hitting a sublime free kick just after ten minutes.

But Brisbane took control of the match and led 3-1 at the break with Broich equalising before Petratos gave Brisbane the lead from the spot.

Frank Farina made two changes to the starting line-up welcoming back Captain Alessandro Del Piero and Brett Emerton. Hagi Gligor also returned to the squad earning a place on the bench, with Chris Naumoff, Joel Chianese and Matthew Jurman making way.

Brisbane held the sway of possession in the early stages and had the first shot on goal via Dimi Petratos who blazed wide after Henrique robbed Pedj Bojic.

This sparked Sydney into action and immediately the hosts hit the front via a Del Piero special. Intricate play between the Italian and Matt Thompson was ended by a foul from Jade North on the edge of the box. Del Piero seized the opportunity and curled his effort into the bottom right corner past a despairing Michael Theo.

Sydney nearly doubled the lead though Despotovic who glanced a header into the grateful arms of Theo after some neat play down the left hand flank.

Just as the Sky Blues started to dominate Brisbane equalised through Thomas Broich. The midfielder was played through on goal by Luke Bratten and calmly slid the ball past Vedran Janjetovic to level the scores.

Barely a minute later Brisbane took the lead from the penalty spot through Dimi Petratos. Seb Ryall was adjudged to have brought down Henrique and despite being forced to retake his effort, the former Sydney player held his nerve to blast home.

With ten minutes remaining in the half Brisbane added a third with a well worked team goal. Broich was the mastermind, having three crucial touches, including the final pass to Petratos who smashed home for his second.

At the break Sydney made one change with Corey Gamiero replacing Del Piero.

Sydney came out after the break with renewed vigour, but it was Brisbane who nearly struck first with McKay hitting the post after a mazy dribble.

Brisbane did find the back of the net after 55 minutes, but the effort was chalked off after Henrique used his arm.

With half an hour remaining Farina made his final changes, with Yairo Yau and Gligor introduced to replace Matt Thompson and Brett Emerton. Yau helped Sydney fashion a great chance playing in Garcia who fed Gamiero. The Young Socceroo sent Theo sprawling to his right to keep out a well struck 25 yard shot.

The changes made an instant impact with Sydney dominating long spells of the second half and forcing Theo into numerous saves, his next stop coming from a Sebastian Ryall diving header.

Brisbane were content playing on the counter, but found Janjetovic hard to beat with Broich drawing a fine diving save from the Sydney FC custodian.

After coping with all the pressure from Sydney, Brisbane put the result to bed with 12 minutes remaining. Broich won a penalty after drawing Petkovic into a foul and Petratos slammed home into the left corner to complete his hattrick.

Sydney kept pushing until the final whistle with substitutes Yau and Gamiero both looking lively and going close.

Brisbane rounded off their scoring in added time through Franjic, who slotted past Janjetovic at the second time of asking, following an initial save from the Sydney FC keeper.

With the last kick of the match Garcia scored Sydney-s second, stabbing home after Theo dropped an Abbas corner. The goal was a deserved reward for an improved second half from the home team.

Sydney travel to play Adelaide next week, before the second Sydney Derby of the season.